My Sister's Keeper, A Novel

"Dr Chance stands besides the IV pole, holding up the bag of marrow. I turn Anna so that she can see it. "That," I tell her, "is what you gave us"

Anna makes a face. "It's gross. You can have it."

"Sounds like a plan," Dr Chance says, and the rich ruby marrow begins to feed into Kate's central line.

I place Anna on the bed. There is room for both of them, shoulder to shoulder. "Did it hurt?" Kate asks.

"Kind of." Anna points to the blood running through the plastic tubes into the slit on Kate's chest. "Does that?"

"Not really." She sits up a little. "Hey, Anna?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad it came from you." Kate reaches for Anna's hand and places it just below the central line's catheter, a spot that falls precariously near her heart."